Niclas Sandells at the European Championships in Helsinki (© Getty Images)
Distance runners Sandra Eriksson and Niclas Sandells were the brightest stars at the Finnish Elite Games 2/5 in Lapinlahti on Sunday (8).
Both broke the B-standard for the London Olympic Games. Eriksson ran the second best ever time 9:43.38 in the women´s 3000m Steeplechase. There were only three runners in the event, and Eriksson had to lead all the way. She opened with a 3:11.45 first kilometre and clocked 6:28.57 at the 2000m point. Johanna Lehtinen´s national record 9:40.43 was bit too hard for Eriksson, but it did not bother her at all.
"The only thing in my mind was to qualify for London and I found a good rhythm from the beginning," Eriksson said. "Only one water jump was difficult, and I think I´ll have to train my technique before London, but I will not compete in the Steeplechase anymore. Perhaps I´ll run the 3000m flat race in Kuortane in July 18."
Sandells had a performance of 3:38.00 in his sights in the men's 1500m, and he got much more help than Eriksson. Australia´s Matt Fox did a very good job as a pacemaker. When Fox stopped, his compatriot Jeff Riseley took the lead, and Sandells quite easily secured second place.
Riseley´s winning time was 3:36.10, and Sandells clocked a PB of 3:36.88 - the best time by a Finn in 32 years. The national record is Pekka Vasala´s 3:36.3h from the Munich Olympic Games 1972, and Antti Loikkanen ran 3.36.30 in 1980.
"I was a bit afraid of what would happen after the pacemaker stopped, but I didn't have to push by myself. I knew I can break the B-standard of 3:38.00," said Sandells, who fell in the final at the European Championships a week ago in Helsinki.
Pitkämäki throws 81.70m
The Men´s Javelin was a very interesting event, because it was a Finland´s qualification competition for London. Only Ari Mannio, the European bronze medallist, had a sealed place in the team, and did not throw in Lapinlahti.
Tero Pitkämäki, the 2007 World champion, set 81.70m in the 5th round and backed it up with an 80.91to win. Antti Ruuskanen, who suffered from pneumonia and was unable to compete in Helsinki, threw 79.70m in the 4th round and took the last London ticket. Harri Haatainen placed third with 77.61m, but Lassi Etelätalo, 10cm behind him, was selected as a home reserve.
"I´m satisfied with my series of four quite good throws, but I can improve a few metres, as the flying position of the spear was not optimal, yet. I've been training quite easy for the last month, but now I must increase the effort in order to be ready in London," said Pitkämäki.
Elsewhere Jamaica´s Nicholas Watson won the 100m in 10.29 and his compatriot Kenroy Anderson the 200m in 20.68, and Sudan´s Rabah Yusif was the fastest in the Men´s 400m in 45.59. Great Britain's Hayley Jones clocked 11.57 in the Women´s 100m and Finland´s Nooralotta Neziri ran only 0.01 seconds short of her PB in the 100m Hurdles.
Darren Niedermayer of the USA cleared 5.50m in the men´s Pole Vault and Russia´s Yekaterina Bolshova won the women´s High Jump as she topped 1.86m at her last attempt.
Almost 4000 spectators had high hopes in the men´s Long Jump, but neither Tommi Evilä nor Roni Ollikainen broke the B-standard of 8.10m for the Olympic Games. Evilä leapt 7.81m in the second round and won ahead of Ollikainen, who reached 7.74m in the 3rd round.
Antti-Pekka Sonninen for the IAAF
Both broke the B-standard for the London Olympic Games. Eriksson ran the second best ever time 9:43.38 in the women´s 3000m Steeplechase. There were only three runners in the event, and Eriksson had to lead all the way. She opened with a 3:11.45 first kilometre and clocked 6:28.57 at the 2000m point. Johanna Lehtinen´s national record 9:40.43 was bit too hard for Eriksson, but it did not bother her at all.
"The only thing in my mind was to qualify for London and I found a good rhythm from the beginning," Eriksson said. "Only one water jump was difficult, and I think I´ll have to train my technique before London, but I will not compete in the Steeplechase anymore. Perhaps I´ll run the 3000m flat race in Kuortane in July 18."
Sandells had a performance of 3:38.00 in his sights in the men's 1500m, and he got much more help than Eriksson. Australia´s Matt Fox did a very good job as a pacemaker. When Fox stopped, his compatriot Jeff Riseley took the lead, and Sandells quite easily secured second place.
Riseley´s winning time was 3:36.10, and Sandells clocked a PB of 3:36.88 - the best time by a Finn in 32 years. The national record is Pekka Vasala´s 3:36.3h from the Munich Olympic Games 1972, and Antti Loikkanen ran 3.36.30 in 1980.
"I was a bit afraid of what would happen after the pacemaker stopped, but I didn't have to push by myself. I knew I can break the B-standard of 3:38.00," said Sandells, who fell in the final at the European Championships a week ago in Helsinki.
Pitkämäki throws 81.70m
The Men´s Javelin was a very interesting event, because it was a Finland´s qualification competition for London. Only Ari Mannio, the European bronze medallist, had a sealed place in the team, and did not throw in Lapinlahti.
Tero Pitkämäki, the 2007 World champion, set 81.70m in the 5th round and backed it up with an 80.91to win. Antti Ruuskanen, who suffered from pneumonia and was unable to compete in Helsinki, threw 79.70m in the 4th round and took the last London ticket. Harri Haatainen placed third with 77.61m, but Lassi Etelätalo, 10cm behind him, was selected as a home reserve.
"I´m satisfied with my series of four quite good throws, but I can improve a few metres, as the flying position of the spear was not optimal, yet. I've been training quite easy for the last month, but now I must increase the effort in order to be ready in London," said Pitkämäki.
Elsewhere Jamaica´s Nicholas Watson won the 100m in 10.29 and his compatriot Kenroy Anderson the 200m in 20.68, and Sudan´s Rabah Yusif was the fastest in the Men´s 400m in 45.59. Great Britain's Hayley Jones clocked 11.57 in the Women´s 100m and Finland´s Nooralotta Neziri ran only 0.01 seconds short of her PB in the 100m Hurdles.
Darren Niedermayer of the USA cleared 5.50m in the men´s Pole Vault and Russia´s Yekaterina Bolshova won the women´s High Jump as she topped 1.86m at her last attempt.
Almost 4000 spectators had high hopes in the men´s Long Jump, but neither Tommi Evilä nor Roni Ollikainen broke the B-standard of 8.10m for the Olympic Games. Evilä leapt 7.81m in the second round and won ahead of Ollikainen, who reached 7.74m in the 3rd round.
Antti-Pekka Sonninen for the IAAF
